F1 Valencia Corruption scandal

[Moose]

So now Europe does include North America and Rusia....

For reference, Russia is indeed half in Europe, half in Asia. Sochi is in fact in Europe.

I also find it a bit nuts that people are sitting here screaming "OMG, only 50% of the races are on 14% of the continents" and thinking that 50% is not a high enough number.

[Just_a_fan]

I also find it a bit nuts that people are sitting here screaming "OMG, only 50% of the races are on 14% of the continents" and thinking that 50% is not a high enough number.

The reality is that F1 is a European sport. All of the teams are European (well, almost all are British but other than UKIP supporters most Brits recognise that they're in Europe) and it started in Europe. One could argue that having races in Europe, USA, China, India and Japan is all that is needed to cover the majority of the world's population who might be in a position to be interested in F1. Then you just need a couple in South America and one in Oz.

As the "classic" circuits are mostly situated in Europe one can make an argument for having a Euro-centric feel to the calendar.

[Richard]

The reality is nothing to do with population and all to do with sponsors in rich countries not wanting a series of races in countries where the sponsors don't have customers. Its a brake on Bernie running 20 races in oil rich counties with impoverished populations.